Essay on The Importance of Slearys Circus People in Hard...

The Importance of Slearys Circus People in Hard Times In Charles Dickens novel Hard Times, an alternative view of the Gradgrind-Bounderby way of life is presented by Slearys circus people. Slearys people are shown by Dickens as leading lives which go against everything which Gradgrind represents and as such they are at first a kind of abomination to him. They are shown as people with a life of freedom, not constrained by the rigid set laws and hard facts which Gradgrinds philosophy is based upon. Not only just the physical freedom to roam the countryside almost at will, where Gradgrind is tied to Coketown. But also a mental freedom to enjoy life to the full with all its spontaneity, unconditional emotions,†¦show more content†¦One of the main tools he uses is the subtle and sometimes not so subtle method of the comparison of objects and characters with their physical and literary opposites. An example being the horse. When we look at Gradgrinds definition of a horse given to us early on in the book Quadruped. Ggraminivorous, forty teeth namely grinders.......with iron.2 ,a strict and non compromising definition. We then find the circus people lodging in an inn , aptly named Pegasus Arms. Pegasus is a horse which could not get further from Gradgrinds definition if it tried. For it being a mythological creature and as such the product of the imagination. A creature in Gradgrinds world such as this should not and must not come to light. To hammer the point home there is a pantomime Pegasus in a glass case hanging on the wall behind the bar. Dickens uses the narrator of the story, who being an essential all seeing, all knowing invisible character, to constantly bombard us with these comparisons. Like when he informs us that the circus people are of a much generous construction 3 . Which also goes against Gradgrind philosophy as the narrator states later on in the book Fundamental principle of Gradgrind philosophy.....give anybody anything, or render anybody help without purchase 4 Dickens also draws our attention very closely to every word which Sleary saysShow MoreRelatedWhile Every Culture, Race, Community, And Family Have Their1008 Words   |  5 PagesCharles Dickens’s 1854 novel, Hard Times, he explores these varying viewpoints while quite obviously taking a stand for one perspective. Throughout the novel, one can clearly see that there are two different models for raising a child. These models are through the guidance of Sleary’s circus members and Mr. Gradgrind. Sleary’s circus has a very humanized approach to raising a child. Unlike Mr. Gradgrind. Through the influential writing of Charles Dickens, Sleary’s circus creates a platform for SissyRead MoreCharles Dickens Hard Times For These Times1074 Words   |  5 Pagesthe course without straying from it. If you do, you are considered broken. Yet, what exactly is the point of mindlessly walking the same path as everyone else, only to constantly find yourself memorizing empt y facts over and over again? In Hard Times for these Times, Charles Dickens embodies the consequences of an absolutely factual world: blindness, imbalance, and nonfulfillment. Through the convoluted stories of the opposite worlds, Sissy’s journey to becoming a jewel of balance, Louisa’s tragic fightRead MoreEssay on Wealth and Poverty in Hard Times by Charles Dickens2288 Words   |  10 PagesHow does Dickens contrast wealth and poverty in the opening book of Hard Times? Hard Times is set in the 1840s, which was an amazingly turbulent time in history due to the industrial revolution. The novel is set in Coketown (Coketown is fictitious but is loosely based on the town of Preston), one of the many new industrial towns, and is centred on the lives of its inhabitants. Peoples lives had changed at this time. The working class used to work in farms, and because they were theirRead MoreSignificance of Emotional Education in Dickens Novel, Hard Times 1911 Words   |  8 PagesSet in the ever shifting world of the Industrial Revolution, Charles Dickens’ novel Hard Times begins with a description of a utilitarian paradise created by the illustrious and eminently practical Mr. Gradgrind, a world that follows a prescribed set of logically laid-out facts. However, readers soon realize that Gradgrinds modern utopia is only a simulacrum, belied by the damnation of lives devoid of elements that feed the heart and soul, as well as the mind. As the years progress, the weaknessesRead MoreUtalitarian Principle in Charles Dickens Hard Times3069 Words   |  13 Pagesage of eighteenth century. Utilitarianism, as rightly claimed by Dickens, robbed the people of their individuality and joy; deprived the children of their special period of their lives, Childhood and deprived women of their inherent right of equality. The th eme of utilitarianism, along with industrialization and education is explored by Charles Dickens, in his novel  Hard Times.. Hard Times written in those times intended to explore its negativisms. Utilitarianism as a government was propounded asRead MoreSocial Network2525 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction  : Hard Times is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, The book appraises English society and is aimed at highlighting the social and economic pressures of the times. Hard Times is not a delicate book . has not usually been regarded as one of Dickens s finest novels and It is also not a difficult book: Dickens wanted all his readers to catch his point exactly, and the moral theme of the novel is very explicitly articulated time and again. There are no hidden meanings in Hard Times, and the

Analysis Of Lolita s Tehran Is A Memoir By Azar Nafisi

Reading Lolita in Tehran is a memoir by Azar Nafisi which shows life struggle of people, especially women living in Iran during revolution. Nafisi is a literature professor who has started her own secret class with seven former students. The class meets once a week and discusses different works of the western literature. In Iran women were were not allowed to read western literature and the ones who read these novels were punished. Iranian government considered western culture bad for their women. The meetings became significant of their own existence and purpose of life, which was somewhere lost during revolution. This memoir discusses life of women under the repressive regime and how literature helps them connect to reality. Nafisi and her students read western literary works like Lolita, The Great Gatsby, James and Austen. They use literature as a medium to socialize and communicate their views about current Iranian government. They compare women s position in western culture to culture in Iran. Literature helps these students to have their own life, despite resistance form the government. Lolita is a story about young girl Lolita and the way she is forced by much elderly Humbert to live with him. Humbert doesn t allow Lolita to have any life outside their house. He doesn t allow her to talk to any boys or have boyfriends. Humbert restricts her in every possible way so that he doesn t lose her. Nafisi compares behavior of Humbert with the Islamic Republic. AsShow MoreRelatedFeminism And The Iranian Cultural Revolution1905 Words   |  8 Pagesprepare to face the world. Specifically through memoirs, or an author’s written life story, one can have a first hand look at the world around them and as a result can better understand the people discussed and their struggles. An American can benefit by reading literature from and about different cultures as it can lead to an understanding of others and an acceptance of different groups of people. Azar Nafisi’s memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran describes how she lived through the Iranian CulturalRead MoreThe Trut h : Ethics, Arithmetic, And Synthetics Of Life1335 Words   |  6 Pagesexists. It is certain that many people believe in the actuality of ethical truths. At the very least, even if ethical truths exist, it isn t at all clear how we can come to know them with any degree of certainty. In Section 2 of the memoir of â€Å"Lolita in Tehran† by Azar Nafisi the book â€Å"The great Gatsby† written by Scott Fitzgerald is mentioned. Throughout this section, the reader is exposed to a varied range of themes relating to each other. One of the primary themes that recur within the pages is of

Shia Islam Essay Example For Students

Shia Islam Essay Shi’a Islam is almost as old as Islam itself and has always had a minoritypopulation in Muslim populated areas of the world. According to Shi’a beliefs the prophetMuhammad had named his cousin Ali as his successor at his time of death. Ali had supposedly been the first to accept Muhammad’s revelations after theprophet’s wife, Khadija had. When Muhammad died it was not Ali who was named caliph,but Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr had accompanied Muhammad in the hijra in Medina. His reign ascaliph was short-lived, he died after only two years as an imam. After Abu Bakr’s death Umar was name caliph. He was also a companion of theprophet. After his death a council was formed to choose the next caliph. The councilelected Uthman of the Umayad clan. Ali, who was on the council disagreed with thedecision but didn’t voice a challenge to him. Followers of both men clashed and for the first time in the history in Islam adivision in the Islamic community had been formed. Tensions between both sides causedthe murder of Uthman by Ali’s party in Medina. Ali then assumed the position as caliphand imam. Ali was not generally recognized as the caliph outsidBibliography:

Many People Commit Actions That Are Unfavorable To Society. Society, I

Many people commit actions that are unfavorable to society. Society, in turn, usually scorns these delinquents wishing that they would be expunged from all civilization. Morrison's Sula, for example, shows how happy people get when a wicked person has left society. It says, ?The death of Sula Peace was the best news folks up at the Bottom had(Morrison p. 141) Yet, can we live in a world without thieves, cheaters, and liars? If there were no wrongdoers, how would we know what is good or bad? How would we know what makes us sad or happy when there are no bad things in this world? And, to how far are we going to say what is wrong or inappropriate for today's society? The need for licentious and sinister people is a very difficult idea to comprehend, but the world can't live without them. This idea is an underlying yet complex theme within Toni Morrison's Sula. Although difficult and perplexing, Morrison attempts to show how the presence of evil can have not only a negative effect to soc iety, but also a righteous one. Throughout Sula, Morrison demonstrates that evil serves a purpose in society and that evil can have a positive effect on life. What is considered evil? Evil tends to be any action or deed that is morally wrong and hinders the realization of good. Killing, adultery, stealing, and beating, are just some examples of actions that are considered immoral in the American culture. Consequently, how does one inherit immoral and inappropriate manners? Parents often attempt to shape their children into what they may think is appropriate in society. However, parents sometimes fail to realize that their kids tend to pick up some of their bad habits. Sula, for Calub2 example, learned that it was okay to sleep with married men. She led her life sleeping with the married men and never cared to deal with the emotions of making love and commitment. But where did she learn to commit adultery? Her mother, Hannah, did the exact same thing; she also slept with married men. Morrison said, ?Seeing her step so easily into the pantry and emerge looking precisely as she did when she entered, only happier, taught Sula that sex was pleasant and frequent, but otherwise unremarkable.?(p. 44). Children tend to acquire the same manners and ideals as their parents. Morrison even said, ?Eva's arrogance and Hannah's self-indulgence merged in her(p. 118) Although it is prevalent that evil creates more evil, Morrison insinuates the fact that wicked and heinous deeds are sometimes necessary. Eva, for example, had killed her only son to save him from his misery. Morrison said, ?His habits were much like Tar Baby's but there were no bottles, and Plum was sometimes cheerful and animated?Then he began to steal from them(p. 45) Now, Tar Baby wasn't someone to be compared to because he was an alcoholic. In addition, Plum was taking drugs. Morrison said, ?It was Hannah who found the bent spoon black from steady cooking.?{p. 45) It seemed that the life on the road and in war had caused him to take this awful route in life. Eva expected a man to come back after the war, but Plum came back an unstructured, helpless little boy. She said, ?I done everything I could to make him leave me and go on to go and live and be a man but he wouldn't and I had to keep him out so I just thought of a way he could die like a man?.? (p. 72) Even though there real ly isn't any justification for murder, Morrison displays how it was necessary to take the extreme action. Plum was suffering too much and needed to find peace, and the only way for him to get peace from his Calub3 tribulations was death. In addition, children sometimes see the bad things their elders are doing and in turn, try not to grow up with the same bad habits. Helene, for example, grew up with a mother who was a whore and who cared little for her. Morrison said, ?Helene was born behind those shutters, daughter of a Creole whore who worked there.? (p.17) Helene hated her mother for her licentious ways. After Nel